Connect 50: TRAIN, EMPLOY, TRANSFORM

TRAIN EMPLOY TRANSFORM

NEW FACES

CHOICE TRANSFORMED

EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR

Welcoming Ross Watkins and

We visit an innovative detox and rehabilitation service in Liverpool and talk to some of the people it supports.

Can football really help change

Natalie Atkinson to the Board, and Mike Barrett as chair of the NAC.

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the lives of people experiencing homelessness?

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CONNECT MARCH 2014 | WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK

F O O R E N O UNDER IBITION 2014 H X E & E C N E ORT CONFER P P U S D N A USING ANNUAL HO nds d Hotel, Midla

8 & 9 July 2

Islan 014 Hinckley

Attending this event means you will have the opportunity to: • Build new skills through our masterclass series • Engage in debates on a range of hard hitting subjects that are facing the sector • Influence future thinking on housing policy and homelessness provision.

UNDER ONE ROOF This event will draw together everything that homelessness charities need to know under one roof.

Held over two days, the event will take a complete look at accommodation and support provision for homeless people

Book your place and customise the event to suit

- and the challenge of sustaining effective provision in a

your individual needs.

challenging environment.

BOOKINGS

The event will bring together homelessness services, industry

Find out more and book your place:

updates, and insights into the future of homelessness.

experts and suppliers to share innovative approaches, policy

020 7840 4461 www.homeless.org.uk/events/under-one-roof

www.homeless.org.uk/events/under-one-roof

S T N E V E K IN L ELETHSESEXPERTISE OF THE SECTOR HOWM CASING S HO

TS | RG.UK/EVEN HOMELESS.O

40 INK | 020 78 @HOMELESSL

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CONNECT | MARCH 2014

WELCOME

IN CONNECT 4 5 6

UPFRONT Regular column from CEO RIck Henderson.

NAC SPOTLIGHT

up and a café in the local community.

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WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO HELP VULNERABLE PEOPLE MANAGE MONEY?

mental and physical stress, but being reminded of our recent spending can increase levels of

made this work.

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rehabilitation service in Liverpool, following its work with some of the city’s most marginalised,

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The Really Useful Book of Learning and Earning is a free resource for adults using homelessness

support them.

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When it comes to campaigning on make all the difference.

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MAKING SOCIAL IMPACT MEASUREMENT WORK The rise of ‘payment by results’ and social investment in the third sector could push

EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR

core beneficiaries to the margins of the

Homeless FA uses football to give people the

impact measurement process. However,

opportunity to develop their skills and abilities,

homelessness organisations have a solution.

gain self-respect and confidence, improve their health, and ultimately transform their life.

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A GUIDE TO LOCAL INFLUENCING homelessness, local influencing activity can

services.

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Find out more about our Pay it Forward working with and how we’ve been able to

alcohol dependent citizens.

SUPPORTING ADULTS INTO LEARNING & WORK

PAY IT FORWARD campaign - what’s happening, who we’re

TRANSFORMING CHOICE We visited an innovative detox and

For service users who are ready, a work Stronge looks at projects that have really

both mental and physical distress.

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A TWO WAY STREET? placement can be life-transforming. Lindsay

Research has shown that just handling and thinking about money can actually reduce

The Feed, a social enterprise project from businesses and local charities, a festival pop-

MEET THE NEW HOMELESS LINK TRUSTEES Welcome to our new trustees, Natalie Atkinson

PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD, PASSIONATE ABOUT PEOPLE Norwich LEAP, will provide outside catering to

Introducing the new NAC chair, Mike Barrett.

and Ross Watkins.

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WHAT OUR MEMBERS SAY

Lift teams up with the East European Advice Centre (EEAC) to develop a project for East European migrants in London.

It has become an increasing challenge for homelessness organisations and their clients

The results of our 2014 Members Survey.

EAST EUROPEAN PEER NAVIGATOR PROJECT

WORKING TOGETHER: DWP NETWORKING EVENT

to navigate through benefits systems.

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MANAGING PEOPLE Regular column from Helen Giles of Broadway’s Real People.

www.homeless.org.uk/blog STORY TO SHARE? We’re always looking for stories about the work you do and the people you work with. Get in touch if you have something to share with readers of CONNECT magazine and blogs - editor@homelesslink.org.uk SUBSCRIPTIONS: to subscribe or take out additional subscriptions, please email connect@homelesslink.org.uk EDITORS: Serena Cowdy / Martin Reed COVER IMAGE: © Joana Freitas, courtesy of the Homeless FA

WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK

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UPFRONT

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UPFRONT will always be amongst the most vulnerable people in our society, and will find it particularly difficult to engage with initiatives like the Work Programme.

We’re pleased to have numeracy and learning specialist Beth Kelly as a contributor, and her article on financial capability highlights some easy-to-use tools that should make it easier for service users to manage their money.

Work-related training is also key - and we highlight some fantastic training initiatives run by organisations within the homelessness sector. For example, you can find out about The Feed, a new project from Norwich LEAP that provides training for former clients who are keen to work in the catering industry. And Everything to Play For is focused how the Homeless Football Association uses sport to develop employment skills.

Finally, we highlight some private sector companies who really are doing their bit. In A Two Way Street?, we investigate how a range of businesses, large and small, have developed valuable work placement schemes for people who have experienced homelessness.

I am also pleased to introduce readers to Homeless Link’s two new ‘expert by experience’ Trustees, Natalie Welcome to this edition of Connect magazine - in which we focus on the training and employment issues facing people with experience of homelessness.

I have worked pretty much every day since I left school at 16. Luckily, I’ve enjoyed most of the jobs I had, and my career has certainly been varied. I’ve been a hairdresser, a postman, a painter and decorator and a nursing assistant!

My main motivation was to work my way out of poverty - but at least that was a possibility for me. I worry that today’s young people face an employment market that has fewer opportunities and frequent obstacles. So how can we, as a sector, support our service users to thrive and grow in the current climate?

Clearly it’s crucial to get things right at bedrock level.

Clients who struggle with basic literacy and numeracy 4

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Atkinson and Ross Watkins, who joined the Board in November 2013 and who bring a wealth of knowledge to the organisation. We are also saying a big hello to Mike Barrett, the new Chair of our National Advisory Council (and a fond farewell to both Jon Cox and David Ford, previous Chairs of our Advisory Panels).

Other features in this issue include an analysis of the latest membership survey results - what you told us about what you want from Homeless Link.

Please read, share and get in touch with your news, views and comments. Have a great spring!

Rick Henderson - Chief Executive, Homeless Link

CONNECT | MARCH 2014

NAC

NAC SPOTLIGHT The National Advisory Council is proud to welcome a new Chair - Mike Barrett. As Chief Executive of Porchlight, and having worked in the homelessness sector for over 23 years, Mike brings a huge amount of experience to the position. Here, we wanted to give him the chance to introduce himself! Visit homeless.org.uk/nac MY BACKGROUND

if our organisations fiercely hold on to independence

I’ve been working in the homeless

and territory, we will divided by both policy and

sector for over 23 years. Before that

decision makers.

I worked in the probation service in London, and I also spent time with two London local authorities, working in both estates management and homeless persons units.

IN MY NEW ROLE WITH THE NAC… I’m really looking forward to working with a knowledgeable and committed team of people on the NAC and at Homeless Link. I feel we can help influence the debate and constructively challenge decisions that

WHAT MOTIVATES ME

endanger our service users and the services set up to

I suppose the main driving force for me is the

help them.

continuing and growing divide in relation to lack of opportunity and fair access to good quality, secure housing in our communities that leads so many people

I also want to build on the fantastic work that Jon Cox was responsible for and hopefully chair meetings with

into homelessness.

as much skill as Jon. I aim to bring experience of both

I’m also driven to try to change things when I see the

Most importantly, I want to help create a formidable

fear and pain of those suffering at the hands of a

team of people who can focus on the job at hand and

society that seems to care more about wealth and

really help Homeless Link’s board deal with the massive

celebrity than about people suffering the indignity of

challenges ahead.

being poor - or of coming from families no longer able

front line work and as a senior manager in the sector.

to support themselves.

WHAT ARE THOSE CHALLENGES?

This all started when I was about ten years old - when I

‘supporting people’ framework - and indeed of local

saw the first airing of television play Cathy Come Home.

authorities themselves - are among them. There is also

I remember looking over at my parents, seeing tears in

a threat from ideologically driven policies that have at

their eyes and realising that homelessness and poverty

their heart sensible ideas, but are in reality making many

were major problems.

vulnerable people’s lives a total misery.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?

One example of this is the application of sanctions

I feel that the homeless sector is an environment where equality and innovation in the midst of chaos still holds true. We are, I feel, on a par with any group of entrepreneurs because we are constantly facing challenges that require imagination, skill and courage to overcome.

However, I feel we as a sector need to be willing to cooperate and collaborate on many more issues. In light of the funding environment, we also need honesty in debates about duplication and costs. By working more closely together we can achieve great things; but

They are many and varied. The dismantling of the

to Housing Benefit, which will have major negative implications for people who have moved through supported housing into the private rented sector.

I believe this change will increase the number of ‘revolving door’ cases, and further add to the strain on dwindling services.

Finally, one of the major challenges facing our sector is how to understand, be part of and influence the interface between health, housing and social care.

Mike Barrett, Porchlight - NAC Chair WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK

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PEOPLE FEATURES

CONNECT | MARCH 2014

MEET THE NEW HOM Natalie Atkinson and Ross Watkins became Homeless Link trustees last November, bringing personal experience of homelessness to our Board for the first time. We talked to them about life, their passion for their work and how they’d like to see the homelessness sector change for the better.

NATALIE ATKINSON WHAT WAS YOUR OWN

nat89atk

EXPERIENCE OF HOMELESSNESS

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE HOMELESSNESS SECTOR CURRENTLY DOES WELL?

- AND HOW HAVE YOU GOT

I feel that the homelessness sector is proactive even in

FROM THERE TO WHERE YOU ARE

current conditions, when funding is being cut, benefit

TODAY?

changes are occurring and a lot of uncertainty exists.

After leaving residential care

Recent campaigns to end rough sleeping, and multi-

on my sixteenth birthday I

agency work with those with multiple and complex

experienced homelessness,

needs, are both real positives.

sofa surfing and staying wherever I could. I was living a chaotic lifestyle, so I would constantly be moving accommodation (from flats and bed and breakfast accommodation to friends’ houses and shared properties) or being evicted. I was never suitable for

IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT’S THE GREATEST CHALLENGE FACING HOMELESSNESS SERVICES TODAY? The current economic climate is extremely testing for the homelessness sector: Funding cuts are being made, and services are being reduced as a result.

supported housing schemes due to my offending history,

The introduction of the ‘bedroom tax’ has had a

and I always felt that I was never given a chance to

negative effect on many individuals who are claiming

‘prove myself’ and be accommodated in this way.

housing benefits. It’s also having a knock-on effect on

I’m currently living in private student accommodation, as I’m in my last year of university. The consistent support I’ve received from important people in my life has been

individuals in supported accommodation who are trying to move to independent living, as there a very few one bedroom properties.

a big factor in me getting to where I am now. Those

Universal Credit will also pose a new challenge when it

people include my youth offending team worker and

is rolled out, as I believe more people will struggle with

various third sector support workers - as well as my

budgeting and paying accommodation costs.

friends. I also believe I’ve progressed because I was so determined to succeed, and to be in a position to help others in similar situations.

FINALLY, WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD MOST IMPROVE THE HOMELESSNESS SECTOR? I would make supported housing more accessible for

WHAT REALLY DRIVES YOU TO WORK IN THE

people with criminal backgrounds, rent arrears and

HOMELESSNESS SECTOR?

histories of living chaotic lifestyles. I would also get rid of

Having experienced homelessness and an unsettled

the ‘bedroom tax’!

way of life first-hand, I feel I’m able to understand and relate to individuals who are in the position I was once in. I enjoy working in the supported housing and feel

Look out for Natalie in BBC3’s upcoming Crime &

passionate about offering help, guidance and advice.

Punishment season. In ‘Banged Up And Left To Fail?’

I hope I’m in a position to empower individuals to go on

- due to be broadcast on Monday 7 April - Natalie

and live an independent and happy life. Quite simply,

examines the impact prison has on young adult

I believe that everyone deserves to have somewhere

offenders, and the balance between punishment and

warm and dry to live; a place that they can call home.

rehabilitation.

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PEOPLE

MELESS LINK TRUSTEES ROSS WATKINS

rosswat1

CAN YOU TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND?

it is to be able to ask someone for support and for them

I had a fairly normal childhood,

way to help someone get what they want. People have

but in my teens my life became

to make their own decisions, and you need to be able

chaotic, culminating in me

to give them the information to allow them to do that.

serving a prison term in my

You have to be there to support them, whether their

late teens. I worked in the

decisions are right or wrong. They need to know that if

construction industry as a

they screw up, that you’re still there to support them, that

bricklayer and over time started a small building business.

There was never much stability in my life and I was under huge amounts of pressure, balancing the books, paying people. I ended up going through, what I now know to be, a mental breakdown and I walked out on everything. My home, my business. I went to live on the streets with nothing but a bag of clothes. I was free of those pressures and bizarrely I enjoyed sleeping rough, but that wasn’t going to last. I got myself a cheap set of tools and started working on building sites, but that was impossible to sustain while sleeping rough. It was an Off the Streets and Into Work building project up in Cumbria that enabled me to move on.

Later, when I was working as a bricklayer in Cambridge, I started volunteering at Jimmy’s Nightshelter, and went full time in outreach with them soon after. I absolutely loved it. It was that whole thing of wanting to do something more. I was going out, finding people, helping them into the best and most suitable accommodation that I could. Today, I’m a Deputy

to give you an honest, realistic response. It’s the only

you aren’t going to stand behind them and mock them.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE WAY THE SECTOR HAS CHANGED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS? When the original Comprehensive Spending Review came out, I think the sector was devastated. So many good workers were lost – so much local experience that you just can’t replace. While services were restructured, I think a lot of service users bore the brunt of it. Many lost the professionals they’d built up relationships with and they had to start over, building trust with new workers.

But many services - outreach teams in particular - have done really well to keep changing and to manage with the budgets that they’ve got.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE AS A HOMELESS LINK TRUSTEE? With all the changes that have gone on in frontline homelessness services, so much of the good stuff has come as a result of service user input. I think the views of service users are absolutely integral to all future changes to the homelessness sector. Homeless Link is one of the

Community Leader at Emmaus in Lambeth.

major players in saying what changes need to happen.

HOW IMPORTANT IS YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN

people, find out what they want, find out what’s working

YOUR WORK?

Service users need to lead that. I want to go out, talk to and what isn’t.

One conversation has stuck with me since I came off the streets. It was with my outreach worker. His options for

HOW WOULD YOU TRANSFORM THE HOMELESSNESS

me were basically to beg or work on the black market.

SECTOR FOR THE BETTER?

Looking back maybe this was half tongue in cheek, but

I would reintroduce mental health services with decent

at the time it was probably one of the lowest moments

budgets. Mental health is one of the primary reasons

in my life. I wanted to change, I wanted to move on, but

people continue with drug and alcohol use. We need to

the one person who should have been able to help me

create a system where people are properly supported

couldn’t do anything. I understand a lot of what people

and not chucked onto the streets on drugs. It’s vital that

sleeping rough are going through. I know how important

we start to rebuild those services.

WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK

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FEATURES

CONNECT | MARCH 2014

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO HELP VULNERABLE PEOPLE MANAGE MONEY?

BY BETH KELLY

Most of us find dealing with money at best a chore and at worst positively scary. Feelings about money are often mixed. Research has shown that just handling and thinking about money can actually reduce mental and physical stress and make us feel more confident about ourselves. However, being reminded of our recent spending can increase levels of both mental and physical distress.

FEELINGS ABOUT MONEY

a bank account rather than in cash through the Post

The BBC Lab UK's Big Money Test in 2013 showed that

Office. In response to this significant moment, The

there is far more to managing your money than financial

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has worked with Homeless

know-how. It concluded that while financial knowledge

Link and the National Institute of Adult Continuing

is important, our emotions play a big part in how well

Education (NIACE) to develop a Talking about Money

we manage our money. Money is linked to how we feel

tool. As the name suggests, this tool is designed to

about power, security, love and freedom; and the test

encourage advisers and their clients to start talking more

identified impulse buying as being a real challenge to

openly about money. It asks a series of questions and

financial security. Financial skills also involve a certain

invites the client to rate their own levels of confidence

level of maths ability, and this can just add to feelings

and competence. This enables clients to address these

of uncertainty about teaching this subject - never mind

challenges and empowers them to make more informed

learning about it! This is undoubtedly why many people

choices and decisions in relation to their circumstances.

steer clear of working in this area.

THE BEST TIME TO ENGAGE PEOPLE IN DEVELOPING THEIR FINANCIAL SKILLS

HOW CAN WE HELP ADULTS WITH SERIOUS NUMERACY ISSUES TO MANAGE MONEY? There is obviously no quick fix for this, but at Learning

So, we know that many support workers, teachers and

Unlimited we have developed a range of online

trainers - as well as the participants on financial literacy

resources that clients and support workers can use with

programmes - have mixed feelings about money and

their clients. The online activities, games and videos are

finances. Indeed, many of us do not want to think about

aimed at people who may not have strong numeracy

money until something significant happens in our lives.

Shaun Mundy, Senior Vice President of the Financial

skills, but who want to develop their financial skills.

Literacy Group, researched the topic and found that

The resources at www.learningmathsonline.ac.uk

people are most interested in developing financial

support adults to develop calculating skills around

capability skills only when something changes in their

‘money coming in’ and ‘money going out’. One

lives. For example: When starting or losing a job, starting

example is showing people how to budget over the

a course at college, dealing with a debt or becoming a

course of a month, rather than for just a week or two.

parent.

The activity requires people to plan for a month by

These can be described as ‘significant moments’. One such significant moment in many peoples’ lives is the

allocating money to four ‘pots’: Rent, bills, groceries and travel. There is also a 'rainy day' pot for what is left over.

proposed introduction of Universal Credit. Eventually,

There are hints and tips, such as how to plan expenditure

this will change the way benefits are paid, presenting at

for a month over five weeks, rather than four (to make

least two challenges: First, people will be paid monthly

sure you do not run out of money - as most months

instead of weekly; and second, they will be paid through

have more than four weeks in them!). There is also a

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CONNECT | MARCH 2014

FEATURES

with vulnerable people to develop some financial literacy programmes linked to the new unit qualifications.

However, some of the project’s early findings indicate that, unsurprisingly, it is not easy to develop new programmes with centres already running on limited resources. Many simply don’t have staff with the requisite skills to support financial capability. In addition to this, Universal Credit - a main motivator for initiating this pilot has had its timetable for introduction changed, creating uncertainty around the need for skills development.

Despite these challenges, it is worth making the effort.

The recent Quids In study (undertaken by the CAB and Santander) highlighted a change in behaviour and positive impact on people in social housing who experienced some financial skills training. check function that allows for variable amounts to be

At this Universal Credit ‘significant moment’, there is

put into the 'groceries/travel' and 'rainy day' pots, but

considerable interest in developing people’s financial

always requires the rent to be paid. To add a sense of authenticity to this activity, we filmed 'vox pops' of people from Homeless link and the CAB giving tips on budgeting. The ‘Everyday Maths’ section of the site also has lots of exercises about keeping appointments and working out time - as well as looking at food labels. The resources do not solve all financial problems, but do give people opportunities to practise some skills in relation to employment and benefits.

NEW INITIATIVES IN THIS SECTOR

skills - and there are some very good tools out there to help with the learning needed. However, there will need to be enough investment to upskill the people involved, in order to make sure we provide the claimants and support workers with the skills they require to successfully access the new benefits.

LEARNING MATHS ONLINE Visit the Maths4Us website to find out more about the resources available.

www.learningmathsonline.ac.uk/wp

As part of a new initiative funded by The Insolvency Service (BIS), we are supporting organisations working WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK

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TRANSFORMING CHOICE

WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARTIN REED

We visited this innovative detox and rehabilitation service in Liverpool, following its work with some of the city’s most excluded, alcohol dependent people.

“They had to carry me up the steps when I got here, I

The service is brought together in a coordinated mix of

was that sick. But this place has changed everything for

professional and clinical support, peer mentoring and

me. Everything. It’s like a family that can turn your life

‘unconditional positive regard’.

around. I’ve got hope. I’ve got dignity. I’ve got a place to go live in when I come out of here. There’s no other place has given me a chance like that.”

Last July, the service opened its doors to the first residents. Seven graduated in September at an event attended by Liverpool’s Mayor. Five have maintained

The speaker is Tommy. He’s sitting on a large leather sofa

their own accommodation. The second cohort will

in the lounge area of the old Solna Hotel in Liverpool,

graduate from the programme at the end of March.

now repurposed as Transforming Choice, a new breed of rehabilitation service for some of the city’s most excluded people. Tommy’s words are echoed by many of the other residents in the room. The words ‘family’ and ‘dignity’ are repeated by many. There are nods of agreement whenever someone mentions how the service has helped them achieve what others could not.

THE PEOPLE Some of the residents take time to tell me in person about the impact their stay in the old hotel has had to date. John tells me: “When they said they were going to help me, well I just thought I’d heard all that shit before.

People promise things. You get that over and over. It’s been tough and I’ve tried to walk out of here about

THE APPROACH

six times, but they’ve always talked me down. And I’m

Transforming Choice launched last July to fill a hole

glad they have, because I’m getting my self-respect

in alcohol and homelessness provision in the city. The

back, they’ve sorted me a place to go live in. And I

people it works with are long term physically dependent

really want to come back and do my peer training, give

on alcohol, usually homeless with little or no community

other people some of the help I’ve had here myself. It’s

support, and most have attempted detoxes elsewhere.

marvellous, it really is. This place is the best thing that’s

Unlike many other services in the area, it focuses on

ever happened to me.”

more than just the addiction. During an intensive 12

Carl says: “I’ve been on a lot of detoxes and residentials,

week residential, residents start with two weeks of

and it’s all great while you’re on them, when you’re

alcohol withdrawal detox. This is followed by a further

in that bubble, but then you come out and you’re still

two weeks of self-care and service engagement, which

homeless, you’re back on the street, and whatever good

focuses on personal health through appointments with

could have come of them is lost. It’s the opposite here.

GPs, dentists and opticians.

You don’t leave until you have somewhere to go.”

Individuals write their own recovery plan and, over

OUTCOMES THAT MATTER

the 12 weeks, they have access to peer support,

I ask Carol Hamlett, director of Transforming Choice,

a counsellor and an in house psychologist. They’re

about the challenges in working with this group of

supported to start courses and to rebuild lost ties with

people. “It’s important to remember that most of the

family. Suitable accommodation is secured for them

people we work with have been using substances for

prior to their departure – with crucial overnight stays

decades – some consuming in excess of 700 units a

in their new homes scheduled during the final weeks.

week,” she tells me. “To be an authentic service, we

This is all backed up by six months of aftercare support.

have to be realistic and not frightened of working with

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Nine months ago Mark was sleeping rough in Sefton Park, just a few hundred metres from where he now works as a peer mentor.

people who really are very ill.” She stresses the high risk

comfortable, physically and emotionally nourished, and

tolerance of the service and willingness to work with

he smiled a lot. That for us is a brilliant outcome.”

people who have often been risk assessed out of other services because of fear of not reaching outcomes.

While three people won’t graduate at the end of March, Carol is confident that the remaining nine will. Just three

Of the 12 people who started in the current group,

months after entering the service, nine of the most

one had a serious relapse and had to leave, another

marginalised people in Liverpool’s homelessness system

suffered a heart attack while visiting his partner and,

will move into long term accommodation, with ongoing

tragically, a third died at the beginning of March.

support from Transforming Choice as they start to move

But Carol doesn’t accept that success with this group of

on with their lives.

people can be measured by numbers based outcomes

MEET MARK

alone. “Yes, we did lose someone but the outcome

Some of the peer support for the current group is

was that this individual spent his last 8 weeks safe,

provided by Mark who, until July last year, was sleeping WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK

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“I want to give other people some of the help I’ve had here myself” - John rough and drinking in Sefton Park, just a few hundred

Take Lizzy, for example, the only female among the

metres from the hotel. Today, he’s settled in a two

current residents. She came to Transforming Choice

bedroom flat, he’s earned qualifications that will help

straight after five weeks of palliative care in hospital,

him support others in his position, he’s about to take up

where medical staff were convinced she was unlikely

beekeeping, and a few days ago he was offered a job

to recover. Her five week stay in hospital will have cost

with Open University.

considerably more than the support she’s now getting

He takes me on a tour of the park, and explains how he

from Carol and the team.

first found out about Transforming Choice: “I was sat just

IN REFLECTION

over there, on a bench with all the drinkers – and Donna,

Before I leave, Carol takes me round the old hotel, keen

one of the managers here, made a beeline for me and said you’re on my list.” He describes the two week detox as “a killer” but explains how he quickly found a new perspective on life: “It was like an adrenaline rush, still thinking about the drink, but not wanting it and not needing it – and I’d just get involved in everything. This

to impress on me the importance of the environment. It feels markedly different to most other services. It’s open and calm; there’s a sense of trust throughout, with no security glass protected reception desk to greet you as you enter. There’s poignancy in the emptied bars in public rooms throughout the building.

place, it’s changed my life. Even the doctors told me,

Carol knocks on a few doors to see if anyone is around

another week out there and I’d have been dead.”

to show me their bedroom. The first to answer is Tommy,

As for what works at Transforming Choice but not elsewhere, Mark believes it’s a combination of things.

“It’s the way you’re reduced off alcohol, it’s the support you get throughout, it’s the friendliness. It’s more like a

who spoke earlier in the lounge. “What do you think?” he asks as he opens the door. He’s trying on a new suit, craning forward into the wardrobe mirror to straighten his tie. “Does it go?” he asks. “It’s for my graduation.”

family than a service. It’s the fact you’re surrounded by

In this moment, less than two months after Tommy was

people who know exactly what you’re going through.”

carried up the steps of the hotel, there’s no hint of his

WHO FUNDS TRANSFORMATION? In spite of its early successes, Carol has encountered a reluctance from commissioners to commit long term to the service. There is no guarantee of funding for a third group of residents to benefit from its support.

former life. This isn’t Tommy the street drinker, Tommy the rough sleeper. For a moment, he could be any man in any hotel, suiting up for a business meeting or a wedding. What strikes me is his confidence in how much has changed for him in only a few weeks, and his positivity about what that means for the future.

Perhaps the £9,696 price tag for each person’s 12 week stay plus 6 months aftercare is a tough figure to justify for innovation in today’s climate. But given that the target client group is made up of frequent fliers with expensive

TRANSFORMING CHOICE

and reactive services – hospitals, police, prison and

Find out more about the service on their website:

more – it’s a prime example of how to do nothing can

transformingchoice.org.uk

prove more expensive.

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SUPPORTING ADULTS INTO LEARNING & WORK The Really Useful Book of Learning and Earning (RUBLE) - available from March - is a free resource for adults using homelessness services to help them think about their learning and development, plan ahead and develop strategies for achieving their goals.

The book was written

Copies of the A5 spiral-bound book are being sent

by the National Institute

to a number of Homeless Link member organisations,

of Adult Continuing

and participants at the Learning for Everyone national

Education (NIACE) with

conference on 20th March will each receive a copy. A

support from Homeless

PDF version will also be available to download at http://

Link and funding from

shop.niace.org/ruble-homelessness.html

the Department for Business Innovation & Skills. The RUBLE format has already

There are lots of ways you can help clients to get the most out of the RUBLE. Here are just a few examples - you could:

proved popular and

• Use the activities as a basis for discussion with clients

effective with people

• Offer ideas on what they might write - for example,

experiencing mental health difficulties and young adult carers.

The book contains information, advice and activities to support people to take positive steps forward in their lives. It includes: • Activities to encourage people to think positively and to reflect on the skills they have and the skills they would like to develop • Information about different types of learning and the benefits of learning, with examples of the positive difference that learning has made to people who have been homeless • Hints and tips about applying for jobs, creating a CV, and going to interviews

about the skills they already have • Provide information to clients on local learning and volunteering opportunities, or encourage them to carry out their own research • Help clients to set realistic goals and check on their progress towards these goals • Support clients to identify any potential barriers to their goals and explore how they may overcome them • Access the websites of other organisations for additional information.

We really hope you will find the RUBLE useful in your work with clients. Please send us your feedback, and encourage your clients to tell us what they think of it too.

Email: lorraine.casey@niace.org.uk

• Details about self-employment and volunteering, and links to further information and sources of support • Advice and support on action planning and setting short, medium and long-term goals • Diary pages to help people stay organised and in control • Ideas to encourage positive health and well-being, and to support people to manage their money

THE REALLY USEFUL BOOK OF LEARNING AND EARNING Download a PDF version here:

http://shop.niace.org.uk/ ruble-homelessness.html

• Links to useful websites and helplines.

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EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR

BY LINDSEY HORSFIELD HEAD OF RESEARCH, THE HOMELESS FA

The Homeless Football Association (FA) believes that people experiencing homelessness have the potential to change their lives positively, and that football can facilitate this transformation. We use football to give people the opportunity to develop their skills and abilities, gain self-respect and confidence, improve their health, and ultimately transform their life.

The transformation often begins with confidence. Since being established in 2012, the Homeless FA has seen over 250 qualifications achieved. More importantly to our players, and to us, 100% of participants have reported increased confidence levels. Rosie acknowledges that she had no confidence in herself when she joined our 2012 Training Centre programme. She was ashamed of her self-harm scars and, despite the hot weather, wore a long-sleeved top under her training kit. Rosie reflects: “So much of my life has been a challenge and if I was honest it’s been difficult to remain positive. The Arsenal Training Centre really helped me. It was clear from the start that the Homeless FA and everyone that works for them didn’t judge me, but genuinely believed in me, and this made me feel worthwhile for the first time in a long time and much, much more confident. The Training Centre was a reason to get up and leave the hostel and it gave me something that nothing else ever has, belief in myself. It just made me happy.”

Our Training Centres are five-day programmes of activity delivered in partnership with professional football clubs.

In 2014, they will involve up to 300 players nationally.

We want the Training Centre to be a positive learning experience in an aspirational environment. In Rosie’s case her increasing confidence was apparent. By week four she was wearing short sleeves to the training session.

By week five she was leading training sessions. Five

A former player and volunteer with the Homeless FA, Rosie is the Peer Mentor Coordinator for 2014 and will help train and support 25 volunteers nationally. | Photograph © Lars Wehmann, courtesy of the Homeless FA

be. The Sports Leaders Award is a great way to develop a person’s confidence in themselves and also in a group. As one of our players in 2013, Stacey, comments, “The football side of things is really fun but it was more important to interact with people in a positive way.”

Creating a positive experience, especially in the classroom, is critical to encouraging players to continue into further education and training. We gather feedback through surveys and interviews - and one survey response was: “The Training Centre gave me a sense of belonging I looked forward to seeing everyone every week. When it finished I wanted that feeling again so I signed up to an IT course! Now I’m learning to design web pages.”

weeks seems like a short period of time, but we see it as

A love of football can help so many individuals into

a catalyst. It accelerates the momentum being built by

different pathways by identifying different talents and

the services that support our players on a daily basis.

passions. Some 63% of players went on to do further

Players completing the Training Centre can achieve their

courses and qualifications after the Training Centre.

Level 1 Sports Leaders Award. The sense of achievement

While the football clubs’ members of staff do a brilliant

and satisfaction felt by players earning this award is key

job of encouraging and supporting players, the most

to providing a positive experience of what learning can

inspiring encouragement comes from volunteers like

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Homeless FA Training Centres take place nationally, in partnership with ten professional football clubs, including Sunderland AFC. | Photograph © Joana Freitas, courtesy of the Homeless FA

Rosie who have been players themselves. At the Arsenal Training Centre in 2013, Rosie provided support to the 30 players as a Peer Mentor. She was subsequently given the role of Team England Peer Mentor at the Homeless World Cup in Poznań, Poland.

Alongside Rosie, all of the Team England coaching staff had experience of homelessness and had taken part in Homeless FA programmes. Players who had volunteered at the Training Centres were also able to be part of the staff teams at international activities. We try to be as flexible as possible, but with three-quarters of our volunteers gaining full-time employment in 2013, they

A former player, James is the Homeless FA’s Head Coach and studying sport sciences at university. | Photograph © Lars Wehmann, courtesy of the Homeless FA

sometimes missed out on activities with us.

Some found this transition more challenging than others.

Billy, a player in 2012 and volunteer in 2013, secured a part-time contract and moved into a permanent contract

changing” Rosie says. “I could never have imagined 18 months ago that today I would be not only in a job I enjoy but training for a career.”

partway through the Training Centre programme.

Many of the players applying to the Homeless FA

Although pleased to be working, he found he had to

Training Centres do so for the football. By providing

adapt his expectations. He explains: “I’ve always loved football. That’s what I thought my career would be in.

It still can be, but for now I need to go to work and pay rent. I’ve got my own place and I’m getting stuff sorted out. I just wish I could do more stuff with you [Homeless FA]. Sometimes I struggle a bit with work because, doing maintenance, it’s not what I am passionate about.”

Sometimes a football programme can lead someone to

learning and volunteering opportunities, we hope to help them recognise other passions and skills that they may have. As James, who played in the 2011 Homeless World Cup and has been a volunteer for two years with the Homeless FA, explains, “It isn’t winning a trophy. The expectations of the players should really be to gain as much as they can and come back a stronger you, a stronger person. Come back and tackle the obstacles that stand in your way in general life.”

a career - even if it isn’t in football. Having seen Rosie’s abilities and the valuable role she held in supporting the

FIND OUT MORE

players in 2013, she was appointed the Homeless FA’s

The Homeless FA Community is open to any project or organisation that wants to use football as a means of improving the lives of people experiencing homelessness in England.

Peer Mentor Coordinator. She now oversees the Peer Mentoring programme and in 2014 will be managing 25 volunteers and ensuring they are all suitably trained and supported. “This whole experience has been life-

community@homelessfa.org WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK

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CONNECT | MARCH 2014

YOUR PRIORITIES FOR 2014

EACH YEAR WE ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR KEY CONCERNS AND MAKE SURE WE’RE PROVIDING THE BEST SERVICE POSSIBLE. WHAT YOU TOLD US WILL HELP SHAPE OUR WORK IN THE YEAR TO COME.

87%

TOP 10 ISSUES

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IMPROVING CLIENTS’ PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH

86%

PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS (e.g. better housing options and advice)

79%

INCREASING THE SUPPLY AND QUALITY OF ACCOMMODATION (e.g. move on accommodation)

77%

MANAGING THE IMPACT OF WELFARE REFORM (e.g. introduction of Universal Credit)

T BENEFIT BES

4/10

HOW ARE WE DOING?

RATED ‘INFORMATION, RESEARCH AND TRAINING’ AS THE MEMBER BENEFIT YOU MOST VALUE

V

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FOR MON UE L EY A

7/10

SAID YOUR MEMBERSHIP REPRESENTED VALUE FOR MONEY

TISFACTION SA

8/10

R

9/10

9/10

ADOPTING NEW APPROACHES TO TACKLE HOMELESSNESS (e.g. Housing First)

72%

SERVICE FUNDING (e.g. mitigating cuts or securing new sources)

SAID YOU WOULD RECOMMEND US

70%

BETTER EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT AND TRAINING FOR CLIENTS

70%

DEVELOPING STAFF SKILLS

62%

REDUCING CLIENT RE-OFFENDING

60%

GIVING CLIENTS MORE CHOICE AND CONTROL OVER CARE (e.g. personalisation)

WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK

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Source: Annual Survey of Members, Homeless Link 2014

SAID WE REPRESENT THE SECTOR WELL

75%

MMENDATI O O EC

N

N RESE TATIO P N RE

SAID YOU WERE SATISFIED OR VERY SATISFIED WITH MEMBERSHIP

FEATURES

CONNECT | MARCH 2014

EAST EUROPEAN PEER NAVIGATOR PROJECT

BY LINDA MANNHEIM

When the homelessness charity Lift teamed up with the East European Advice Centre (EEAC) to develop

a project for East European migrants in London, it wasn’t difficult to see the need they wanted to address: Some 31% of rough sleepers in London were migrants from Eastern Europe.

However, the kind of service that was needed was only

begin their placements this spring. The project trains East

beginning to become apparent. Rough sleepers from

European migrants to become peer navigators who can

East European migrant communities just didn’t have the

help other East European migrants who are homeless

same profile as other rough sleepers in the UK.

or at risk of homelessness. By placing peer navigators

Lorraine Richardson is Day Services Manager at The Passage, which provides shelter and support services to homeless people and holds specialist sessions for

in mainstream homelessness services, the project is aimed at breaking through the obstacles East European migrants face when they run into difficulties.

new arrivals from Bulgaria and Romania (A2 countries).

Five organisations in west London are teaming up

Lorraine recalled seeing a spike in service users from

together to deliver the project. In addition to the

East European backgrounds, and the realisation she

main partners Lift and EEAC, participants include The

had when many of them explained why they’d become

Passage, Thames Reach (which runs an outreach

homeless. She explains: “We couldn’t help them. We’re

service), The Upper Room (a charity working with

set up for people who have support needs, but the East

homeless people, economic migrants and ex-offenders)

Europeans who were rough sleeping for the most part

and West London Churches Homeless Concern (WLCHC)

don’t have those support needs.”

which runs night shelters.

Indeed, the 2012 study on Multiple Exclusion

The project is funded by the Homelessness Transition

Homelessness in the UK shattered many beliefs about why

Fund (HTF). Samantha Rennie, Director of the HTF, said:

migrants in Britain become homeless. Unlike UK nationals, most homeless migrants don’t have a history of exclusion and support needs, but become homeless for the first time as a result of a ‘trigger’ event (for example, the loss

“The Fund was set up to support innovative approaches to tackling rough sleeping, and this project fits the bill.

In the current climate, services need to think creatively to meet increasing need, and there is strong evidence

of employment or a relationship breakdown).

that partnership working is the most effective way

“We thought that by teaming our user engagement

developed these partnerships based on the specific

expertise with EEAC’s links to East European migrant

expertise each agency can bring to work with a

communities, we could create a really effective new

vulnerable and often misunderstood client group.”

service,” said Atara Fridler, Lift’s Chief Executive.

of delivering critical services. Lift has proactively

The East European Peer Navigator Project is in the

The result is the East European Peer Navigator Project.

process of recruiting its first ten peer navigators, some

Development work on the initiative began in late 2013,

of whom have experience of homelessness, and all

and the first volunteer peer navigators will be ready to

of whom have experience of arriving in London as

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migrants from Eastern Europe. One of the people who recently applied to become a peer navigator is Biljana

• The A10 countries that are frequently referred to

Kotevska-Kokir, who came to London as a student from

are the ten countries in Eastern Europe that have

East Europe fifteen years ago and who now works in

acceded to the EU - Poland, Lithuania, Latvia,

human resources. Biljana had observed an increase

Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia,

in East European rough sleepers near her home in

Estonia, Romania and Bulgaria (formerly the A8

Hammersmith shortly before she came across a notice in

and A2 countries).

The Guardian recruiting peer navigators for the project.

• There are 370,000 East European migrants living

“There aren’t enough agencies [who can] help people

in London (Census 2010). Polish is second most

when they get into trouble,” she observes. “Homeless

spoken language in England and in West London

East Europeans don’t even know where to look.”

boroughs (Ealing) in particular (ONS, Census

Barbara Drozdowicz, EEAC’s Development Manager, is aware that many East Europeans don’t know where to look for help. The majority of the 1,850 migrants who approached EEAC for help in 2012 were unable to approach mainstream services without support. A peer-led consultation with EEAC’s service users - held

2010, March 2013).

• East European migrants constitute 5% of London’s population, but EE rough sleepers constitute a disproportionate 31% of the street population (CHAIN March-April 2013, Broadway April 2013).

• East European Advice Centre dealt with 720 calls

the following year - confirmed that service users needed

in 2012 from people needing help with housing,

support to access mainstream services and would prefer

debt or employment issues (40% of the total calls

to do this through a peer navigator service.

to the centre); of these, some 600 (80%) were

The one year pilot will train and support 40 people from East European migrant communities to become peer navigators; and is aimed at benefiting more than 500 migrants from Poland, Lithuania, and other East European countries living in London.

from people either at risk of losing their home or actually homeless.

• EEAC’s 2013 survey established that 90% of the East European migrants surveyed were economically active but most were in low-paid jobs; a disproportionate 86% of EE migrants

Atara Fridler hopes that the project will be helpful for

(comparing with 49% London average) live in

a large number of homelessness agencies who will be

accommodation rented from private landlords.

able to draw on a resource they have never had access to before - a central pool of peer navigators who can support service users on an as-needed basis. Winter shelters, main daytime hubs within the project’s area of operation, and rough sleeping outreach teams will be able to help at-risk and newly homeless clients by linking them with peer navigators. Service users will get help negotiating a potentially stressful process. And agencies and mainstream services will not have to develop and support individual resources.

Many of the project partners believe it has the potential to identify and address some of the reasons East European migrants can be at high risk of homelessness. EEAC has an employment rights project to help East European migrants counter exploitation by employers, while Lift’s employment and housing services have a strong focus on helping people in the local area secure good quality private rented sector housing and paid employment.

and understanding UK systems - are challenges that peer navigators can help them through. They can also help them past other obstacles that prevent people from earning enough to maintain a tenancy. “People don’t tend to look outside their immediate circles for work,” observes Barbara Drozdowicz. “The more entrenched they become in an isolated community, the harder it is to find something. It can be difficult to break this cycle.”

In recent years there has been a strong focus on the reconnection services available to homeless migrants.

While this may be an option for some, many migrants have lived and worked in the UK for a relatively long time, just barely getting by until a crisis causes them to become homeless. Migrants included in the 2012 Multiple Exclusion Homelessness study had been in the UK for an average of seven years before becoming homeless, making reconnection an inappropriate option for most.

The more obvious barriers to steady employment faced by many East European migrants - difficulty with language WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK

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THE FEED

PASSIONATE ABOUT FOOD PASSIONATE ABOUT PEOPLE

Barry Allard is the founder of LEAP - a personal development programme in Norwich for people experiencing disadvantage and inequalities in health, housing and employment. LEAP’s latest initiative is The Feed, a social enterprise project which will provide outside catering to businesses and local charities, a festival pop-up and (in the long term) a café in the local community. We spoke to Barry about how The Feed will work, why the project is so valuable from a training and employment perspective, and how other organisations in the homelessness sector can make social enterprise initiatives work…

TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THE FEED…

choice. Our market research also found that there is

The Feed will provide delicious food and a quality

currently a relative lack of competition for this type of

service, with a focus on producing a range of quality

cuisine in the local community.

North African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine (think Ottolenghi!). This will form the basis of an outside catering facility, a festival pop-up, and - in the future - hopefully a community café.

Crucially, The Feed will be run by ex-LEAP clients. It will provide innovative training opportunities for people who have been homeless, marginalised or vulnerable.

One of the main priorities of the scheme is to change people’s perceptions of those individuals who have been away from the job market for a long time, or who have a history of criminal activity.

HOW IS THE FEED PROJECT STRUCTURED? First, we had to register the scheme as a social enterprise and community interest company. We also had to make sure existing LEAP partners (Norwich City Council and St Martins Housing Trust) were happy with all proposed aspects of the initiative.

At the beginning, The Feed’s team will consist of Munya as lead chef and three other volunteers. I will also be on hand to provide management guidance and support when needed.

The initiative is also about creating financial

WHAT WILL THE FEED TRAINEES BE ABLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE EXPERIENCE?

sustainability for LEAP - to help make the organisation

Volunteers on the project will be able to work towards a

less reliant on external funding.

range of specific catering qualifications - including those

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO FOCUS ON FOOD PROVISION AS A MEANS OF PROVIDING TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES?

related to food hygiene and preparation. In the future, LEAP hopes to create an overall qualification unique to The Feed - giving the initiative more of an academy feel.

A lot of LEAP clients like the tangible results the food

More generally, trainees will gain a range of skills that

industry provides. Unlike many other avenues of

should increase their levels of employability - ranging

employment, it’s also an industry in which there are

from customer service and cash handling experience to

lots of realistic employment opportunities and roles for

communications, sales and marketing skills.

people who don’t necessarily have lots of qualifications.

In the longer term, we also hope to set up relationships

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON NORTH AFRICAN, MEDITERRANEAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN CUISINE?

with organisations in the local area, and help trainees

Former LEAP client and ex-chef Munya will be leading

College has a catering school. It would be good to be

the project on the ground. Munya has African roots, so

able to eventually channel The Feed volunteers into

an African or African fusion concept was the obvious

that, and into jobs in local restaurants.

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into employment that way. For example, Norwich City

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HOW ARE YOU SELECTING THE LEAP CLIENTS TO TAKE PART IN THE SCHEME? LEAP has a number of former clients (like The Feed’s new lead chef Munya) who already have experience of working with food. However, we’d like to involve as wide a variety of people as possible: If a client shows an interest in becoming part of The Feed, we’ll give them an interview!

At this early stage, however, we also need to be realistic.

For example, we’ve taken the decision to focus on clients who will feel comfortable working within the strict health and safety food guidelines that apply. There will also be a risk assessment system in place to assess other potential issues - for example, the risk of taking on a client who has a history of theft. However, we will look at each case individually. In the future, we hope that the scheme can be expanded to safely include more vulnerable clients.

DO YOU ANTICIPATE ANY PARTICULAR CHALLENGES IN OVERSEEING THE PROJECT?

project has low overheads. For example, there will be no

There are always challenges around managing

paid staff attached solely to the project.

volunteers. For example, volunteers’ level of involvement may be limited by other commitments; and in due

IS THIS THE SORT OF INITIATIVE OTHER HOMELESSNESS ORGANISATIONS COULD SET UP?

course, people may want to leave to take paid work.

Yes, definitely. As long as the local competition and food

I’ve learnt a lot about managing volunteers through running other LEAP initiatives. That means I’ve been able to plan ahead, and set up a volunteer training and

industry environments are taken into account, there’s no reason why similar schemes can’t be set up by other homelessness organisations.

engagement structure designed to prevent or minimise

In fact, I think homelessness organisations all over

difficulties in the future. There will, for example, be a

England should be considering starting social enterprise

process that includes an initial application, an interview,

projects like The Feed, as a way to both raise revenue

thorough training and continuous support. I hope each

and to provide training opportunities.

of these steps will help ensure that potential volunteers are fully aware of the roles, responsibilities and levels of commitment that are involved.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THE FEED TO DEVELOP IN THE FUTURE? I’m really inspired by organisations like the Beyond Food

WILL THE FEED TRY TO COMPETE ON A GENUINELY COMMERCIAL BASIS WITH OTHER BUSINESSES?

Foundation, and the Skylight cafés set up by Crisis. In

I think it’s really important that The Feed becomes a

an academy in its own right, providing high-quality

genuinely competitive, high-quality outside catering

outdoor catering to businesses and big festivals, and

service. I’m involved with the Lloyds Bank Social

providing multiple, paid employment opportunities for

Entrepreneurs Programme (run by the Eastern Enterprise

people who have experienced homelessness.

due course, I would love to see The Feed develop into

Hub) and have learnt a lot through that. We’ve analysed the competition, (festival caterers, African food caterers and local community cafes) and we believe The Feed will perform strongly in comparison. The fact that customers will be doing good by using the service will just be a bonus, not the main reason for choosing The Feed over the competition.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LEAP AND THE FEED LEAP empowers people who face homelessness to live a fulfilling life of their choice.

www.norwichleap.co.uk

I hope The Feed will be able to make a small profit within its first year. I think this will be possible, because the WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK

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A TWO WAY STREET

BY LINDSAY STRONGE

For service users who are ready, a work placement can be life-transforming. Placements provide valuable work experience, a boost to the CV (and self-esteem) and, sometimes, a direct route into employment. There are many excellent ‘in-house’ work placement schemes; but not every service user wants to work within our sector.

It’s important that the back-to-work opportunities available are as diverse as service users’ aspirations.

There are a growing number of work placement

being involved with the Ready for Work placements.

schemes that partner private companies with

It’s a good development opportunity for them to learn

homelessness organisations, and, as I was to discover,

buddying and mentoring. We’ve found that employee

they benefit all parties.

engagement has increased right across the business.

Business in the Community, a socially-focused, businessled charity with an extensive network of private companies, launched their Ready for Work programme in 2001. The scheme aimed to provide participants with work placements, mentoring and a route into full time employment. Fast forward thirteen years, and over 3,000 people have been employed following placements in companies such as Barclays, Freshfields, Marks & Spencer and Carillion. Over half of the 3,000 candidates were rough sleepers or still classed as homeless at the time of their placement.

Some 74% of staff participating in buddying/mentoring report increased job satisfaction; and 80% say that the process has improved their relationship building skills. Some 94% say they feel more understanding and empathy towards others.

“For any business considering offering Ready for Work placements I’d say this: Our contact at Business in the Community is very professional and supportive, and they provide good resources when you need information for stakeholders. Just make sure you take the time to engage people at all levels across your company. It’s

I spoke to Dianne Crookes, Group Resourcing Supplier

the employees on the front line who will make it work.

Manager with the Royal Mail Group. Here’s what she

The benefits to your company far outweigh any time

told me:

and resources required to set the placements up.”

"We’ve been participating in the Ready for Work

As well as national schemes like Ready for Work,

programme since 2005. We have provided 451 work

there are smaller partnerships between homelessness

placements, 217 of which have resulted in jobs.

organisations and businesses. Providence Row has

Additionally, we have employed 89 Ready for Work

developed its collaboration with the Andaz hotel on

candidates that did placements with other companies.

Liverpool Street over several years. Initially the hotel

We’ve just appointed our 306 candidate!

donated surplus stock, such as towels, but in 2011 the

th

“The Ready for Work programme is a good source of employees, they’re local people who just need to be given a chance and as a business, we fundamentally feel that’s the right thing to do. Our biggest challenge initially was ensuring consistency of process and prioritising where to start with the roll out, as there was so much enthusiasm.

two organisations came together to create a series of workshops on catering, healthy eating and hospitality for Providence Row clients. They designed a seven week Catering Trainee scheme in the charity’s day centre kitchen, followed by a placement in the busy hotel kitchen. Last year, three people gained employment after completing the programme, and the scheme

“We employ over 127,000 people on the front-line,

won a Lord Mayor’s Dragon Award which celebrates

and we have some really great employees who love

excellence in corporate community involvement

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“THE MOST SATISFYING PART OF MY ROLE IS SEEING A VERY NERVOUS INDIVIDUAL WALKING INTO OUR LARGE ORGANISATION ON THEIR FIRST DAY AND THEN GROWING WITH CONFIDENCE AND EAGERNESS TO LEARN AS THE PLACEMENT PROGRESSES. THE ULTIMATE ACHIEVEMENT IS WHEN WE CAN OFFER SOMEONE A ROLE AND SECURE A BETTER FUTURE FOR THEM WITH ROYAL MAIL.” Jayne Parry, Recruitment Advisor, Royal Mail and site co-ordinator for Ready for Work

Photograph © Michael Walter/Troika, courtesy of Royal Mail Group programmes. One person who used to sleep outside the

In 2011, Josh Littlejohn and his partner Alice Thompson

hotel is now employed there.

set up Social Bite, a café in Edinburgh. The café uses

It’s not only employees who have a more positive view of companies that take their responsibility to local communities seriously. Consumers are increasingly interested in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In Nielsen’s 2013 global survey ‘Consumers who Care’, 50% of respondents stated that they would be prepared to pay more for goods and services from companies that give back to society; this is a 5% increase from

locally-sourced ingredients and ploughs all profits back into charities set up to solve social problems at home and abroad. A quarter of the workforce of Social Bite are ex-homeless, some of whom had rough slept outside the café and were local Big Issue sellers who the café’s staff and customers were familiar with. The Social Bite team help them find accommodation, provide an income and train them up on site.

2011. Businesses have a considerable amount to gain,

Josh has a vision about the future of business. As he

economically and socially, from prioritising the CSR

told The Herald newspaper in a recent interview, “we

agenda and a work placement programme is a solid

can't leave it up to governments or charities to solve

foundation.

our problems” he says, “we need another economic

Taking social responsibility a step further are social businesses created purely to make profit for charities and employ ex-homeless people. Connection Crew is a unique social business in crewing and logistics.

model.” With two cafés now open in Edinburgh and one set to open in Glasgow at the beginning of March, business is booming. Josh says their success is due to the fact that “we’re doing the right thing.”

Customers hire a crew to set up stages, build sets and

With so many inspiring and successful work placement

deal with lighting and sound equipment. Around 25%

programmes operating in businesses across the UK, the

of Connection Crew’s workforce are work ready ex-

future looks bright for service users who are eager to

homeless people who have completed an employment

get back to work. Let’s hope more businesses follow the

support programme and an initial work placement.

lead of those featured here, and offer work placements.

Any profit made by the company is donated to The

As Dianne Crookes from Royal Mail Group says, “stop

Connection at St-Martins-in-the-Fields.

considering it and just do it!”

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CONNECT | MARCH 2014

Find out more about our Pay it Forward campaign - what’s happening, who we’re working with and how we’ve been able to support them.

WHAT IS PAY IT FORWARD?

The 2012 rough sleeper count recorded 19 people

Pay it Forward is a Homeless Link campaign focused on

sleeping on the county’s streets.

protecting and raising awareness of the services that support people when they lose everything.

On 6th December 2013, Oxfordshire County Council opened a public consultation around proposals for its

Research indicates that almost a third of us has either

2014-2015 budget. The saving measures proposed include

been homeless ourselves, or knows someone who has. It

a 38% cut to the £4 million budget for Housing Related

is crucial that individuals experiencing homelessness get

Support - hostels, supported housing and floating support.

the help they need to overcome their difficulties.

This equates to a funding cut of around £1.5 million. The

Since 2010, demand for help from local authorities by people facing homelessness has risen by nearly a

public consultation closed on 3rd January 2014, and the budget announcement is expected soon.

third. However, during the same period, investment in

Around £1 million of the budget is currently spent by

local services that prevent homelessness and help get

Oxford Homeless Pathways on its O’Hanlon House

individuals back on their feet has actually fallen in many

and Julian House hostels - and on managing Oxford

areas.

Homeless Funeral Fund. There are just three hostels in

Our Pay it Forward campaign aims to raise awareness of the fantastic work the sector does in tackling homelessness, demonstrate the value of investing in

Oxford; and this funding cut could lead to the closure of at least one, potentially turning 60 homeless people out on to the street.

housing-related support, and urge councillors to commit

In response to the proposed cuts, Oxford Homeless

to protecting funding for homelessness services.

Pathways launched a Change.org petition, urging

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING? We launched the Pay it Forward campaign in October 2013. Since then, we have been supporting our members across England to launch their own regional campaigns, in reaction to proposals from councils to make significant cuts to housing-related support budgets.

We have been working particularly closely with members in Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Worcestershire; areas facing some of the most dramatic cuts. We have supported them in launching public campaigns, to help raise the profile of this incredibly important issue.

OXFORDSHIRE Over 350 people in Oxfordshire are currently getting the support they need from charities to leave homelessness

Oxfordshire County Council to reconsider the 38% cut. The charity also sent an open letter to the leader of the council opposing the proposed cuts, with signatories including our Chief Executive, Rick Henderson, and the Vice Chancellor of Oxford University, Professor Andrew Hamilton.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Government statistics show that between 1st July and 30th September 2013, there were 243 applications to Nottinghamshire City Council for help with homelessness.

There are currently thousands of people using homelessness services in the county. Framework, one of the largest providers of assistance to homeless people in Nottinghamshire, helps around 6,200 individuals each year.

behind. A further 550 people are getting direct support

The County Council’s budget for housing-related

to prevent them becoming homeless in the first place.

support has been cut repeatedly since 2004 - when it

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CONNECT | MARCH 2014

FEATURES

was £27.3 million per annum. The most recent reduction,

As part of Worcestershire County Council’s plan to make

implemented in the past three years, brought the figure

£98 million of savings by 2017, it is proposing to cut its

down to just £12.1 million per annum.

Housing Related Support Budget by 60%. This would

Current proposals, which are subject to consultation, would involve a further reduction to £7.9 million, most of the latter being ring-fenced to meet statutory requirements. The public consultation closed on 17 January. An announcement is expected soon.

If implemented, these plans would result in the closure of all emergency and supported housing for homeless people in the county. They would also withdraw funding from community-based support for vulnerable people living in their own tenancies, and for crisis prevention work to avoid homelessness.

have a catastrophic effect upon homelessness support services to vulnerable adults in the area, at a time when (per 100 households) rough sleeping has increased by 33% in the last year. The public consultation closed on 21 January. An announcement is expected soon.

If the proposed spending reduction goes ahead, organisations hit hardest will include St Paul’s Hostel, Citizen’s Advice Bureau and Worcester Community Housing. The latter, which manages more than 4,000 properties for people on low incomes, is set to lose every penny of its £630,000 yearly grant from the fund.

Youth homelessness charity St Basils has had 1,438

Framework has already had its funding cut from £7

referrals for help since September 2009 - and has

million per annum to just under £4.5 million. The council’s

supported more than 300 young people into supported

proposed cuts would see a further £3.5 million reduction

accommodation, supported Lodgings and Private

- 85% in total. The charity says it simply will not survive if

Rented Schemes. However, St Basils’ vital services are

these plans go through.

now under threat, as in October 2013 Worcestershire

In response to the latest funding threat, Framework launched the Think Again campaign to try to convince Nottinghamshire County Council to change its mind.

County Council proposed that the Adult Social Care budget (including Supporting People funding for vulnerable young people in the county) be halved.

Campaign resources include a link to the public

In response to the proposed cuts, St Basils ran a media

consultation section of the council’s website, an

campaign and gained local press coverage. It also

online petition, a downloadable letter to the leader

wrote about the threat to funding on its website and

of the council, a Twitter campaign, and a poster and

in its newsletter, directing people to the Worcestershire

factsheet.

County Council consultation and our Pay it Forward

Rick Henderson also wrote a letter to the leader of the

campaign resources.

council, Alan Rhodes. In it he opposed the cuts, made

Rick Henderson wrote a letter to the leader of the

the case for continued investment and requested a

council (Adrian Hardman) opposing the cuts, making

meeting to discuss things further.

the case for continued investment and requesting a

WORCESTERSHIRE

meeting to discuss the situation further.

Government statistics show that between 1st July and 30th September 2013, there were 222 applications to Worcestershire County Council for help with homelessness.

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CONNECT | MARCH 2014

A GUIDE TO LOCAL INFLUENCING When it comes to campaigning on homelessness, local influencing activity can make all the difference.

We have the resources that could help.

Influencing your local councillor, media or partner

4. WORK WITH YOUR COUNCIL

organisations may seem daunting, but there is no

Engaging elected councillors and council staff in your

one in a better place to do this than you. You’re the

work is key to ensuring they make the right decisions

expert on your community, and you’re the person or

about how local services are commissioned and run.

organisation that will be directly affected by local decisions. Because of this, it’s you that local decision makers want to talk to most.

Getting a councillor or the Mayor to commit to a campaign pledge or sign up to a petition, for example, could be the first step to build a relationships and, if

That’s why we’ve worked with our members to create

possible, work in partnership with them.

a series of guides to help you. They take you through

5. INVOLVE THE MEDIA

the key steps to influencing local decision makers, and provide tips and tools to help you along the way.

Here are five quick tips to get you started!

1. HAVE A PLAN Tackling the issue in its entirety can be complex, so it's wise to start off small: Clarify what the specific issues are in your local area and what it is that you want to change.

Having a specific ask will help focus your influencing work.

Local papers need local stories, and communities want to feel connected with local issues. Telling your stories through media and social media will help raise awareness of your cause, and could help you gain support.

And remember, stories that focus on the local and human elements will be the strongest and most likely to be covered by journalists or bloggers.

PAY IT FORWARD - TAKE ACTION As part of our Pay it Forward campaign, we have also put together a tool that should make it easier for you

2. WORK IN PARTNERSHIP

to find out about homelessness numbers in your area.

To make change happen you will need to decide whose

We’ve also put together a letter template for you to use

support is critical and how you will approach them.

when you write to your local councillors.

Involving local groups or organisations that have similar interests as you - and who want to influence your key audiences - can be mutually beneficial, saving you both valuable time and resources.

3. RUN A CAMPAIGN Campaigning is an effective way of bringing about change by raising awareness of an issue and giving people a voice to take action against it.

Campaigns unite people who are passionate about a specific cause, so running one could be the best way for you to involve local people, councillors, services and service users in your influencing work.

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PAY IT FORWARD: RESOURCES TO TAKE ACTION You can find and use the interactive tool and letter template at:

www.endhomelessness.org.uk/ take-action

CONNECT | MARCH 2014

FEATURES

MAKING SOCIAL IMPACT MEASUREMENT WORK

BY ROHAN MARTYRES

The rise of ‘payment by results’ and social investment in the third sector could push core beneficiaries to the margins of the impact measurement process. However, homelessness organisations have a solution. Through careful application of good practice in impact measurement - as exemplified by the charity Porchlight - the sector can ensure that new funding mechanisms genuinely and sustainably meet the needs of homeless people.

Porchlight is a homelessness charity that works throughout Kent and Croydon. Porchlight commissioned CAN Invest, the social investment and social impact consultancy of the charity CAN, to evaluate one of its Canterbury-based young persons’ services using the Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology.

At CAN Invest we spent more than a year working with Porchlight to undertake research - conducting extensive interviews and surveys with the Photograph © Ian Cuthbert

service’s major stakeholders. These involved commissioners, public and third sector partner organisations, staff, and most importantly the young people who receive accommodation and other support from Porchlight. CAN Invest calculated that for every £1 invested in Porchlight’s young persons’ service, the charity is forecast to deliver between £4.30 and £7.60 in social value to a variety of stakeholders.

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CONNECT | MARCH 2014

So, who is involved in calculating such figures? And will

to identify and value the outcomes they experienced.

this change with the rise of ‘payment by results’ and

These included a range of indicators to measure

social investment?

outcomes for both funders and core beneficiaries.

THE TRADITIONAL AUDIENCE OF SOCIAL IMPACT REPORTING

Third, we reported the findings to beneficiaries for their

Social impact reporting by homelessness organisations

recommendations to ensure beneficiaries’ insights

and others in the third sector has traditionally been aimed

and concerns influence Porchlight’s decision-making.

more at funders than end users. This is probably because

Recommendations ranged from what outcomes to

funders do not directly experience users’ outcomes;

measure and how that should be done, to suggestions

and therefore need additional information. However,

on how better to stay in touch with beneficiaries after

the rise of outcomes-based commissioning and social

they have stopped using Porchlight’s services.

investment has the potential to push beneficiaries to the margins of the impact measurement process; not in terms of audience, but - more fundamentally - in terms of the outcomes being measured.

feedback and further insight. And finally, we formulated

Every organisation is different, and the impact framework that works for Porchlight may not work for others. For example, SROI - while appropriate for Porchlight - is only one of the methodologies that CAN Invest deploys to

This may seem counter-intuitive: Outcomes-based

measure impact. And these methodologies in turn should

commissioning and social investment are generally seen

not be confused with the wider issue of the objectives

as means by which financial incentives are aligned

for measuring impact. Accordingly, the most important

with the greater social outcomes delivered by charities

question an organisation needs to ask is, ‘What exactly

for their core beneficiaries. To take the UK’s first Social

are we trying to achieve by understanding our impact?’

Impact Bond as an example, social investors will be paid by justice commissioners if the charity St Giles Trust and its partners manage to reduce re-offending rates in men serving short-term sentences at HMP Peterborough.

RISKS OF HEADLINE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

How this question is answered will form the basis for everything else. But as a constant, I would recommend that every homelessness organisation carefully considers which outcomes their social impact measurement systems focus on, and whose values and interests their

THAT FOCUS PRIMARILY ON COMMISSIONERS’ AND

measurement systems serve.

INVESTORS’ INTERESTS There is a danger that social impact measurement will

THE PRIZE OF GETTING IT RIGHT - MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE MOST MARGINALISED

over-focus on funders’ interests. Practically speaking, an

There are no easy answers here. On the one hand, front-

organisation may invest the majority of effort in measuring

line organisations must meet demands to focus on the

against indicators demanded by commissioners, and

sort of outcomes that commissioners and funders value,

spend too little time understanding the perspectives,

and use cost-efficient impact reporting systems suited to

insights and desires of beneficiaries themselves.

lean times. On the other, they need to uphold the notion

Two unfortunate consequences may arise as a result.

First, beneficiaries’ voices would be marginalised from

that homeless people and the outcomes they value remain at the heart of social impact measurement.

decisions about what is important. Second, the cart is put

But the prize is clear. By navigating these waters, the

before the horse: The majority of the effort should instead

sector can help ‘payment by results’ funding and social

be directed towards understanding and measuring the

investment meet their potential, and sustainably reduce

complex links between perceptions and interim outcomes

social disadvantage. In this way, we can collectively

for beneficiaries as they receive support (or not) from their

ensure that emerging funding mechanisms strengthen

families, support organisations and wider society. After

the sector’s moral purpose as a champion for those who

all, it is these factors that ultimately drive the longer-term

are marginalised from society and who do not currently

outcomes of interest to homelessness commissioners.

have the means to support themselves.

HOW PORCHLIGHT ADDRESSED THESE RISKS Following CAN Invest’s principles-based approach to impact measurement, our SROI work with Porchlight involved engagement with core beneficiaries at all major stages of the impact measurement and reporting process. First, we considered their needs in designing the impact framework. Second, we directly engaged with them using robust qualitative and quantitative methods, 28

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CAN Invest Further information on CAN Invest’s approach to impact measurement can be found at:

www.can-online.org.uk/can-impact Porchlight SROI Further information on the Porchlight SROI is available at:

www.porchlight.org.uk

CONNECT | MARCH 2014

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“THE EVENT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND OPENED MY EYES MORE TO THE MAJOR PROBLEM LONDON IS FACING WITH HOMELESSNESS.”

WORKING TOGETHER DWP NETWORKING EVENT

With so many changes brought about by welfare reform, it is becoming increasingly challenging for homelessness organisations and the clients they serve to navigate through benefits systems.

Welfare reform aims to simplify the benefits systems -

sector staff were able to understand each other’s

but things are likely to get worse before they get better.

priorities, make personal contacts and build trust in

People experiencing homelessness are more likely to

joint working. By working together in group discussion

receive sanctions to their benefits, the consequences

sessions, attendees came up with potential solutions

of which are severe with sanctions affecting housing,

and actions to take forward. They also discussed ways

wellbeing and the services that work with them.

to develop joint working practices in their organisations

Sanctions often undo the hard work of homelessness

that worked for everyone. Mutually beneficial

services, and staff are spending increasing amounts of

partnership arrangements were also identified by

time managing clients’ benefits claims with less time to

everyone as good practice, with co-location, single

spend on other aspects of support.

points of contact and reciprocal training between

Where homelessness services work together with Job

organisations being cited as mutually beneficial.

Centre Plus (JCP), sanctions can be prevented as there

An attendee emphasised: “I will raise the consequences

is an increased understanding of the barriers faced by

of sanctions and the issues faced by homeless claimants

people experiencing homelessness. Some services do

among JCP front line advisers. I will encourage

work well with JCP - but joint working is often dependent

them to forge relationships with local homelessness

on personal relationships with individual JCP advisors.

organisations. I will also encourage JCP advisers to

In partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions

signing commitments.” The event concluded with

(DWP), Homeless Link piloted a Working Together

commitments from both the DWP and homelessness

event which brought together JCP and homelessness

services to develop better joint working between the

service staff with the aim of facilitating networking and

homelessness sector and JCP across London and the

increasing joint working between organisations. The event

Home Counties.

took place on the December 6th 2013 at Kennington Job Centre in South London, and was attended by 35 JCP staff and 35 Homelessness sector staff.

take into account issues faced by NFA claimants when

Homeless Link will be running more Working Together events across England, to help homelessness services recognise the opportunities as well as the consequences

The event included speakers - from both the DWP and the

of welfare reform by working collaboratively and

homelessness sector - who broached difficult subjects such

preventatively with JCP. Changes such as the claimant

as sanctions and the work programme and ensured that

commitment offer more personalised support to claimants,

everyone in the room understood both side’s priorities and

and JCP staff are able and willing to work together and

perspectives. As one attendee put it, “It was good to get

recognise the support of homelessness services. Now is

the elephant out of the room”. Real common ground was

the time to develop these relationships, and to help JCP

found by everybody when David Ford, former Chair of

understand the barriers experienced by homeless people.

Homeless Link’s expert panel, talked about his experience of claiming JSA while homeless and his journey into employment.

The event also included table discussions on joint working, and plenty of opportunities for networking. By

WORKING TOGETHER EVENTS IN YOUR AREA We’re running more DWP networking events across the country until June

homeles.org.uk/events/nationalregional

meeting one another in person, JCP and homelessness WWW.HOMELESS.ORG.UK

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CONNECT | MARCH 2014

MANAGING PEOPLE

Dear Helen,

I think in the first place you need to be very clear that you feel passionate about wanting to work with homeless and other disadvantaged people before leaving the security of a career in financial services. If this is so, I believe that working in homelessness services gives a great opportunity to learn loads of skills that will stand you in good stead to make moves within the broader support and care/social housing sectors - and well beyond.

I work for a ba nk a nd I’ve be en doing some vo lu nteering wit h a homele ssne ss charity, which I’ve loved a nd I’m thin king of a pply ing for a paid trainee ro le.

My family are worr ied that I will be narrowing m y career opti ons by doing this, sin ce it’s quite a specific field.

Do you thin k their concerns are justified?

Because the needs of homeless people are so varied and complex, front-line workers receive training in

Also, there’s a great

an amazing variety of specialised areas. As well as

deal of mobility if you want to move between

developing generic competences including excellent

disciplines in the sector. For example, we’ve had staff who

communication and influencing skills, you will learn how

have moved from generic front-line services into specialist

to work with people with different kinds of addictions

areas of service delivery or into policy, communications,

and a range of mental health problems, such as

fundraising or business support functions. There is a

schizophrenia and personality disorders. You will also

real dynamism and fluidity to the sector, with talented

learn how to work sensitively with specific groups of

people who want to run with new things being actively

people, such as sex workers, refugees, asylum seekers

encouraged and supported to do so.

and victims of domestic violence. These skills will provide you with a passport to work in all kinds of other related sectors - and sadly there is no shortage of work for those wanting to support vulnerable people.

If you want to progress to a management role, there are many opportunities for promotion within the sector.

Homelessness organisations are very complex social businesses that work in an increasingly commercial environment. If you work for an organisation that

You definitely shouldn’t make the move if you want to earn a lot of money, but in all other ways it’s an extremely rewarding career. There is hard evidence that people working in voluntary sector organisations feel more engaged and motivated at work than in other sectors; and from our own benchmarked staff surveys, we know that employee engagement in homelessness services is particularly high. I hope your family will be reassured!

provides good leadership and management training - which many do - you will learn the whole range of management skills, which are transferable to any kind of organisation. This will encompass ‘hard’ skills such as commercial acumen, project management and service design and development. You will also learn effective people management techniques and the ‘softer’ leadership, interpersonal and partnership skills associated with the ability to achieve results with and through others.

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Helen Giles is HR Director of Broadway and Managing Director of Broadway’s Real People HR consultancy www.broadwaysrealpeople.com

eless Link “I love Hom ever fail training - I n ething to take som e.” away with m sford Chess Tracy, Chelm

M A E T R U O Y TRAIN IN-HOUSE TRAINING Our in-house training courses are held at a time and place convenient to you. You can pick from over 30 topics and train up to 16 members of staff at a time.

Always grounded in the latest research, with opportunities to practice new ways of working and build a team approach around particular work areas, our courses will help you and your colleagues to excel.

Here are just some of the courses we can run in-house: ENGAGE AND EMPOWER Learn to help clients improve self-awareness, build motivation and self-esteem, break free from unhelpful behavioural patterns, and take responsibility for their actions and choices.

HOW TO USE THE OUTCOMES STAR Find out how to use the star to improve support planning and prove the impact of your service.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE: SUPPORTING EX-OFFENDERS Find out how to work with ex-offenders to reduce re-offending and move them towards more positive goals.

ING IN A R T K IN L ELTEHESESXPERTISE OF THE SECTOR HOELOM PING D EV

ING | RG.UK/TRAIN HOMELESS.O

40 INK | 020 78 @HOMELESSL

4450

COMMENT

CONNECT | MARCH 2014

RESOURCES We’ve pulled together a list of resources and research related to the features in this edition of CONNECT. If you have any information you would like to share with our member organisations, please write to editor@homelesslink.org.uk.

HOMELESS LINK INFORMATION Find us online

MORE LINKS Streetlink

homeless.org.uk/blog

www.streetlink.org.uk

twitter.com/homelesslink facebook.com/homelesslink

Homeless Pages www.homelesspages.org.uk

Welfare Aware Our key resources on the latest and upcoming

Homeless UK

changes to the welfare system

homelessuk.org

homeless.org.uk/welfare-aware Effective Action Good practice guidance for local authorities and services homeless.org.uk/effective-action

CONTRIBUTORS Learning Maths Online

Our policy work

- learningmathsonline.ac.uk

Latest research on youth homelessness and more. http://homeless.org.uk/research

NIACE - niace.org

In the regions Meet your Homeless Link regional managers. homeless.org.uk/contact-regional-manager

Tools to help you promote your work in your local community. homeless.org.uk/local-influencing

homeless.org.uk/contact-nac

Homeless FA - homelessfa.org Lift - liftpeople.org.uk

Local influencing toolkit

And your NAC representatives.

Transforming Choice - transformingchoice.org.uk

LEAP - norwichleap.co.uk Business in the Community - bitc.org.uk CAN Invest - can-online.org.uk Porchlight - porchlight.org.uk This edition was edited by Serena Cowdy - www.serenacowdy.com

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